Dame Judi Dench will be featured as the (pre-recorded) voice of the Giant in the new London production of Sondheim and Lapine’s Into the Woods, which begins performances at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park Aug. 6, prior to an official opening on the newly revised date of Aug. 16, for a run that is booking through Sept. 11.

Dame Judi Dench
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Dench, who is a patron of the theatre and has previously both acted there (in Sweet Mister Shakespeare in 1976) and directed productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew and The Boys from Syracuse there, will record her part in late July.

Dench also provided the voice of the Giant in the 2002 revival at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway.

The cast will also feature the previously announced Hannah Waddingham as the Witch and Jenna Russell as the Baker’s Wife. Both have respectively appeared on Broadway reprising their West End roles in Monty Python’s Spamalot and Sunday in the Park with George. Also in the cast is Helen Dallimore as Cinderella; Dallimore originated the role of Glinda in the original London company of Wicked.

The production is co-directed by the Open Air’s artistic director Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel. To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 826 4242, or visit www.openairtheatre.com